Autumn touches for your home

by Jill Pearson

There’s no denying that God knit an eye for beauty and design into my DNA, and there is just no stopping that desire to create a visually appealing, cozy, welcoming home, not unlike the artisans God called to build the temple.

Exodus 35:35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

This impulse has nothing to do with perfection or impressing others or spending a lot of cash.  The creative process and endless possibilities are what excite me, and the opportunity to welcome others into an attractive, peaceful environment is my heart’s desire. 

A book that helped validate this proclivity and inform me on the how’s and why’s of creating this kind of home is “Welcome Home” by Myquillyn Smith, a Christian author and blogger who coined the term cozy minimalist.  Her book is broken up into seasons, and she offers a checklist of sorts for creating a seasonal atmosphere, as well as planning special celebrations each season.  

I thought it would be fun this month to share her suggestions and show you how I’ve incorporated them into my home in Oronoco.  Perhaps one or more of the ideas will inspire you to cozy up your home for the season, but more importantly, to bless and receive the blessing of hospitality by opening your door to others.

One phrase from Welcome Home that caught my imagination was taken from a Christmas carol:  let heaven and nature sing (in your home.)  How do I let heaven sing?  I don’t have scripture framed on every wall, but you will find books on my shelves that signify my values,  there is a driftwood cross on one wall, made by a 5-year-old boy named Axel who gathered wood with his grandma along the Mississippi, built, and mailed out crosses to anyone who requested them during the pandemic.  You can read about it HERE.  You might hear worship music playing on the speaker or a hymn whistled as I wash dishes, just like Grandma used to do.

How do I let nature sing?  By using lots of house plants and fresh flowers or cut branches from my yard (or my neighbor’s yard…everyone should be fortunate enough to live next to a generous master gardener!) I use things I’ve collected in nature like antlers, stones, dried grasses, and driftwood, along with natural metals, woods, and fibers…also a stray cat who became a beloved pet. Much of what I’ve listed is free and available right outside the door or with a bit of foraging, including stray cats.

Now on to Myquillyn’s considerations for fall decorating, inspired by the five senses:

Sight:  choose a color story for the season…three or four colors that feel like fall to you.  This year, I’ve chosen mustard yellow, muted coral, and grey-blue.  These show up in throws and pillows and little pops of decor like a stack of books.  She suggests creating a fall-inspired Pinterest board of photos that speak fall to you and help guide decorating choices.  Once you’ve narrowed down your palette, shop your house, shop your backyard, and as a last step, shop in a store.  Wife tip:  train your husband in the fine art of decorative pillow appreciation. 

Touch: I cozy up for fall with chunky, textured throws and pillows, felted garland across the mantle, velvet pumpkins I made in a class with Calvary buddy Elizabeth Walby, a fuzzy sheaf of wheat and raw wooden candlestick holders made by my husband on his lathe…even a whimsical feathery mask on Ursula, my head planter! They are the kinds of things you will want to reach out and touch…and please do!

Scent:  Did you realize that when people walk through your door, the first sense to be activated is smell?  Burning incense has a long church history, and that’s not by accident.  God gave us a powerful olfactory sense. Consider choosing a “signature scent” each season.  Burn a candle, diffuse some oils, or simmer some cider on the stove.  But don’t save it for company!  Light a candle during your quiet time and when you pray.  Tie it to your routine.  My aunt lit a candle every Thursday for my daughter during her health crisis.  This gesture touched me deeply.

Sound:  I LOVE this novel idea from Myquillyn…create a seasonal music playlist on Spotify that creates a mood.  She shares her seasonal playlists, but I enjoy creating my own.  I set aside a couple of hours each season to sift through my favorite oldies, a little modern classical like Piano Guys, and some interesting instrumental music.  I’ve recently been enjoying 80’s hits covered by bluegrass bands like Love Canon.

Taste:  We can’t forget the iconic flavors of fall as we cozy up with pumpkin spice lattes and apple crisp and tailgate chili supreme! I love this fun food idea for a gathering from Myquillyn: a stacked apple cider bar, complete with skewers of apple and orange slices, mini pecan pies, and glazed donut balls perched in a mug of cider! This would be fun for a small group gathering.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into my home and Myquillyn’s book. Homes should not be hide-aways; they should be among your offerings to the Lord to use as he wishes, with doors flung open to new possibilities and a space that sings “Welcome, I’m glad you’re here.”